by thesaffrongael

St. Paul’s-fonaCAB Tournament continues on Saturday

Erins Own Lavey v Drumloman Gaels (Colaiste Feirste-Saturday 4-00 pm)

The action in the St. Paul’s-fonaCAB Ulster Minor Club football championship continues tomorrow (Saturday) when Derry champions, Erin’s Own Lavey face Drumloman Gaels of Cavan at Colaiste Feirste. The tournament has thrown up a couple of excellent games to date with a strong Kilcoo of Down already through to the Boxing Day semi-final and the Derry and Cavan champions hoping to join them after tomorrow’s game.

Erin’s Own Cargin v Enniskillen Gaels Fermanagh (St. Paul’s- Sunday 1-00pm)

Sunday is sure to see a big crowd make their way to Shaw’s Road where Antrim champions Cargin take on Enniskillen Gaels. The Toome side were very impressive in their county final win over St. Brigid’s but the jury is still out on the Cargin lads who turned in a number of indifferent performances during their league campaign.

Erin’s Own suffered defeats to All Saints, Tir na nOg, St. Brigid’s, Aldergrove, Kickham’s Creggan and Padraig Sarsfield’s in a poor league campaign but were a completely rejuvenated side when the championship came around.

They began their championship journey when they travelled to the Bear Pit and reversed that league defeat with a good 1-10 to 1-6 win over Sarsfields and that seemed to give the side confidence and a belief in themselves.

St. Gall’s were their semi-final opponents at Lamh Dhearg, the Milltown side had caused an upset by defeating Aldergrove in the semi-final but never the less were installed as favourites against the Toome side.

Cargin had been putting in a lot of work however under the guidance of Brian McCann, Paddy McCann and Darren Craig and carried their recent improvement into that semi-final, emerging 1-10 to 0-10 winners to book a place in the final against St. Brigid’s.

  • Darren Craig, Patrick McCann and Brian McCann, hoping to lead Cargin to victory over Enniskillen Gaels at St. Paul’s on Sunday

Twenty four points had separated the sides when they met in the league at Musgrave Park and St. Brigid’s semi-final victory over Aldergrove had installed them as the firmest of favourites to lift the Minor title but Cargin hadn’t read the script.

The Toome lads came flying out of the starting blocks to produce a high octane performance that their opponents quite simply couldn’t match and inspired by a master-class from mid-fielder Pat Shivers they ran out deserving winners.

It proved to be a great day for Erin’s Own with Shiver’s going on to play his part as their seniors took the Senior championship title after a replay against Lamh Dhearg and Paddy McCann, Brian McCann and Darren Craig will be hoping to carry that momentum into Sunday’s game.

Their opponents, Enniskillen Gaels are previous winners of the St. Paul’s tournament and serial winners in Fermanagh but are an unknown quantity going into Sunday’s game though I would expect the Cargin management to have done their homework on the Erne champions.

The Antrim champions will bring a big support with them on Sunday and if the game is tight they could prove to be the Cargin’s ‘16th man’ and if they can reproduce their Antrim final form then they are capable of advancing to the semi-final.

Termon- Donegal v Emmyvale-Monaghan (Colaiste Feirste-Sunday 4-00pm)

Donegal champions, Termon make the long journey back to Belfast on Sunday following last week’s win over Silverbridge of Armagh at Colaiste Feirste in a preliminary round game of the fonaCAB-St. Paul’s Ulster Minor club championship.

Their opponents on Sunday, Emmyvale of Monaghan make their bow in the tournament and last week’s successful outing for Termon and an impressive win, may see them start this one as favourites

The Tir Connaill champions had it mostly their own way throughout though they did survive a mighty goalmouth scramble.

The Donegal side led 0-6 to 0-2 after 15 minutes and a goal from the penalty spot from Ryan McFadden saw them push on to a commanding 1-7 to 0-4 lead at the halfway stage and they were good value for that lead.

Despite missing a second penalty Termon pushed on to win fairly comfortably though they are likely to face a stiffer test against the Monaghan champions  Emmyvale who played their football in Monaghan at U17 level, winning both league and championship.

The semi-finals will be played on Sunday December 22nd and Thursday 26th December (Boxing Day) with the final again fixed for New Year’s Day, with all three played at St Paul’s

by thesaffrongael

St Louis end CPC’s reign as Ulster champions

Ulster Colleges Camogie – Corn Uan Uladh semi-final

St Louis Ballymena 1-9 Cross & Passion Ballycastle 1-5 

ST Louis Ballymena ended Cross & Passion’s three year rein as Ulster Colleges Senior Camogie champions at Ahoghill on Friday evening when the battled back from a goal behind ten minutes into the second half to outscore their North Antrim rivals by 1-5 to no score in the final ten minutes to book their place in the final.

The holders held a slender 0-5 to 0-4 half time lead after a hard fought first half, but the Kentullagh girls were back on terms early in the second half. CPC hit back with a brilliant individual goal from Nuala Devlin and it appeared they had taken a grip on the game, but incredibly they would not raise another flag for the remaining twenty minutes, plus almost nine of injury time as the St Louis defence took control. The Ballymena school was soon level when Caoimhe Molloy blasted a twenty metre free low to the CPC net and they went on to add four more without reply to seal the win.

In bitterly cold conditions both teams struggled to put together any flowing passages of play and it was down to the free takers to step up the mark in a hard hitting contest. Riana McBride hit four for CPC while Maura Downey was on the mark for St Louis to keep things tied at 4 apiece and it took a point from Annie Lynn, the only score from play in the half, to give the Ballycastle school a 0-5 to 0-4 lead at the break.

After Caitlin Crawford brought St Louis level early in the second half Nuala Devlin’s goal gave CPC back the lead, and with the scores hard to come by they must have felt they were in a strong position. However they got no time to enjoy their advantage as less than two minutes later Caoimhe Molloy fired her free to the net. The momentum had now swung in St Louis favour and with midfielder Bronagh Laverty and centre forward Emma Louise McAreavey surging forward at every opportunity they challengers got on top. Caoimhe Molloy added two points to give them a cushion before Downey and Crawford added the insurance scores to see their team through to their third final in a row where they will meet the winners of next week’s second semi-final between St Pat’s Maghera and St Mary’s Magherafelt.

Cross and Passion : Nuala Devlin (1-0), Riana McBride (0-4 frees), Annie Lynn (0-1)

St Louis : Caoimhe Molloy (1-2 frees), Maura Downey (0-5, 0-4 frees), Caitlin Crawford (0-2)

Referee: Owen Elliott 

St Louis – Orlagh Convery, Maeve Mulholland, Brigid Delargy, Laura McAleese, Katie Molloy, Eimear McMullan, Sarah McIlhatton, Bronagh Laverty, Aoibhinn McCluskey, Caitlin Crawford, Emma-Louise McAreavey, Caoimhe Molloy, Aimee Traynor, Maura Downey, Kyra Doherty

Subs – Mary McKillen for Aoibhinn McCloskey

CPC – Becky Ellis, Orlagh Laverty, Megan McGarry, Bríd Magill, Fiounnuala Toner, Katie Laverty, Enya McShane, Aine Magill, Ciara Laverty, Nuala Devlin, Caitlin Heggarty, Annie Lynn, Rianna McBride, Cassie McArthur, Clodagh O’Kane.

Subs – Aiobhann Donnelly for Becky Ellis; Faye McIntosh for Clodagh O’Kane; Bronagh Magill for Fionnuala Toner.

Referee – Owen Elliott (All Saints)

by thesaffrongael

Loughgiel Shamrocks Juvenile Awards

Loughgiel Shamrocks held their juvenile presentation awards in the Millennium Centre last weekend where the young teams who have won honours for the club this season received their trophies. Top of the list was the Under 14 hurling and camogie teams who completed the Feile na nGael double in both North Antrim and All County. Hadning out the awards were senior hurling and camogie stars Liam Watson, Eddie McCloskey, Lucia McNaughton and Clare McKillop

Pics by Enda Casey

Loughgiel Under 14 hurlers who received the North Antrim and All County Feile, League and Championship trophies
Loughgiel Under 14 Girls who won the North Antrim and All County Feile trophies
Orla Breen receives the Under 12 Most Improved Camog from Fr Mulholland PP while Eimear McGivern receives the Under 14 Most Improved from Fr Connolly
Darragh Patterson received the Feile and league trophies from Eddie McCloskey and Liam Watson
Under 16 Player of the Year Orlagh Laverty (left) and Under 14 Player of the Year Anna McKillen received their awards from senior star Lucia McNaughton.
Members of the Under 16 Hurling team at last week’s awards
Members of the Under 16 Camogie team
  • Anna McKillen and Anna McKillop receive their awards from Lucia McNaughton
Clare McKillop presents the Uner 12 Camogie Plaeyr of the Year award to joint winners Mariea Laverty and Caela Dobbin
Loughgiel Under 12 Camogs
Loughgiel Under 12 Hurlers
by thesaffrongael

Lamh Dhearg juvenile awards

Lamhs holds 35th annual juvenile presentation at Devenish Complex

By Kevin Herron

The Devenish ballroom hosted Lámh Dhearg’s 35th annual juvenile presentation on Saturday 16th of November .

Guest speaker for the evening was Paula O’Hagan, captain of Clonduff All-Ireland intermediate winning camogie side. Paula delivered an inspirational address to all gathered for the evening.

Senior footballer and Antrim forward Kevin Quinn was also in attendance to help hand out awards on the evening and senior football captain and Lord Major John Finucane was also able to make a late appearance – having switched on the Christmas tree lights at Belfast City Hall.

Sean McIlhatton updated players and parents on plans for the new second pitch. This week the money raised to date has broken £100,000 .

Guest’s Paula and Kevin handed out individual and team honours on the evening.

Congratulations to all recipients:

Hurling:

U-10 Hurler of the Year – Matthew Murray & Oisin McLaren

U-12 Most improved Hurler – Mark McGinley

U-12 Hurler of the Year – Conor McConville

U-14 Coca-Cola Perpetual Trophy Award – Sean McCarthy

U-14 Most improved Hurler – Corey Camlin

U-14 Hurler of the Year & Féile Skills award – Donal Martin

U-16 Most improved player – Aidan Morrow

U-16 Hurler of the Year – Michael Braniff

Camogie:

U-10 Most improved Camog – Katie Flynn

U-10 Camog of the Year – Aoife Craig

U-12 Most improved Camog – Catriona Doran

U-12 Camog of the Year – Jodie Peoples

U-14 Most improved Camog – Carly Lowe

U-14 Camog of the Year – Ciara Maguire

U-16 Most improved Camog – Roise Cunningham

U-16 Camog of the Year – Isla Annett

Girls football:

U-10 Girls Most Improved Player – Eimear McCambridge

U-10 Girls Player of the Year – Aoife Craig

U-12 Girls Most Improved Player – Aoife Fitzsimons

U-12 Girls Player of the Year – Lauren Smyth

U-14 Girls Most Improved Player – Aimee Owens

U-14 Girls Player of the Year – Isla Annett

U-16 Girls Player of the Year – Raicheal Mulholland & Robyn Murray

Boys football:

U-10 Boys Most Improved Player – Tiernan Lee

U-10 Boys Footballer of the Year – Dylan Fegan

U-12 Boys Most Improved Footballer of the Year – Joseph Cleland

U-12 Boys Footballer of the Year – Ronan Webb

U-14 Boys Most Improved Football of the Year – Conall McGarry

U-14 Boys Footballer of the Year – Declan Young

U-16 Boys Most Improved Footballer of the Year – Matthew O’Boyle

U-16 Boys Footballer of the Year- Niall McGarry

Individual awards:

Diarmuid Frazer Memorial Cup – Dylan Fegan

Youth Culture Award – Aoife Fitzsimons

Charlie Smyth Award for Most Overall Improved Player – Erin Craddock

Sam McGarry Award for Outstanding Commitment and Desire – The Gaisce Volunteers

& mentor Damo McGuigan

Davy McGarry Award for Youth Personality of the Year – Tiernach Fegan

Special thanks to everyone who helped organise the evening and donate prizes for the ballot and thank you the staff at the Devenish Complex